OSP Hazardous Device Technicians respond to requests for assistance throughout the state and provide a variety of services. When old blasting caps are found in grandpa´s garage or when deteriorated dynamite is found under a street in Corvallis, as has happened in the past, the bomb squad is called. Individuals or organizations that have reason to believe an extremist group would target them may receive a package from an unknown origin. With the assistance of the bomb squad, the package can be x-rayed to determine the contents and then destroyed, if necessary. As more information on building explosive devices is being made available on the Internet, more and more improvised explosive devices are being found in homes, on the streets and in schools. A remotely operated robot with a camera is sent downrange to either break apart the device, making it inoperable, or to retrieve the device and place it in a special unit called a Total Containment Vessel (TCV). It would then be taken to a safe location to be destroyed. The TCV is designed to contain a blast generated by up to 10 pounds of high explosives.

TCV open and ready to accept device or explosives

Robot monitor showing the view of one of several cameras on a television screen

Robot carrying improvised explosive device to the TCV

Robot placing improvised explosive device in TCV

STATS:

Shell is 1 1/2" Thick

Sphere is 4´ in diameter

Same material as hull of Sea Wolf Submarine

Tested up to 10 lbs of C4

Detonation charges run through vent holes

Takes up to an hour to vent the pressure

TCV closed and read to safely transport hazardous explosives or devices out of the area